Casket handle



pril 10, 1934. R. A. MccLr-:LLAND GASKET HANDLE Filed Jan. 15, 1935 z e f .v nu...

3nventor,

(Ittomeg,

Patented Apr. 10, 1934 GASKET HANDLE Russell A. `McClellandy Richmond, Ind., assignor to McClelland Casket Hardware Company, Richmond, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application January 13, 1933, Serial N0. 651,558

3 Claims.

The object of my present invention, broadly stated; is the provision of certain improvements in burial casket hardware, in order to add to its utility, as well as to add to its artistic and pleasing appearance, `and all without material increase in the cost thereof.

Other more specic objects and particular, advantages of this invention will be suggested, especially to a mortician, in the course of the following detailed description, and that which is new will be correlated in the appended claims.

The means by which I am able to visualize the carrying out of the principles of my invention in a practical manner, is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a burial casket, with which is shown my invention in connection therewith.

FigureV 2 is substantially the same as Fig. 1 eX- cept that it is taken from a different angle, and the means vformounting the handle-bars thereon is slightly different.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the casket shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and showing my invention in connection therewith.

Figure 4 is a detail cross section, as taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1, but taken on an enlarged scale with relation thereto.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of a casket, as taken from the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is an end elevation of a casket, as taken from the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Figure 7 is a detail cross-section, as taken on the line '7-7 of Fig. 2, showing one position of the lower handle bar.

Figure 8 is the same as Fig. 7 except that it is taken as if one should be looking in the opposite direction, with relation to Fig. 7, and with the lower handle-bar shown as in extended position.

Figure 9 shows a bracket in elevation.

Figure 10 is a View of the inner face side of one of the arms and Figure 11 is a rear elevation of the bracket shown in Fig. 4.

Similar indices designate like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing, letter A denotes the top portion, or lid, of a burial basket, and letter B denotes the base portion thereof.

The sides of the casket are denoted by the letters C and D; and the ends thereof are designated by the letters E and F. Each corner of the casket is, in this instance, covered by a corner-plate, as the plates G, H, I and J.

As to the parts mentioned above, no claim is (C1. ics-'411) made thereto per se, as they are shown merely as thebasis for the attachment of my invention, which is attached to the body of the casket, neither am I to be limited to the shape or the design of the parts indicated by letters of refer-- ence.

My invention particularly resides in the pro- Vision of a plurality, or two sets, of handle bars, the members of each set being located one above the other, each member of which is located parallel with its corresponding member of that set of handle-bars, substantially as shown in the drawing. In this instance a set of handle-bars is located on each side, and a set on each end oi the casket, as shown.

The upper handle-bars comprise the side members 1 and 2, and the` end members 3 and 4. Likewise" the lower handle-bars Vcomprise the side members 5 and 6, and the end members 7 and 8.

Each of said handle-bars is supported by a plurality of brackets, whereby it is securely connected to the body of the casket.

As shown in Figs, 1, 4 and 5, brackets 9 are rigidly secured, at their vertical central portions, to the body of the casket, that is to the sides C and D and the ends E and F, each by a bolt 10. From its place of attachment each of said brackets projects outwardly and' flares upwardly and downwardly, terminating in the respective ring portions 9 and 9 for the respective upper and lower handle-bars, which t therein. By this arrangement the handle bars will be rigidly secured in operative position, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The preferred means for carrying out the principles of my invention in a practical manner is shown in Figs. 2, 6, 7 and 8, the same being of the swinging type, for the lower bars, each of which, supporting means, comprises a bracket l1, which is secured to the body of the casket by'a bolt 12. Formed integral with, and extending outwardly, from each of the brackets 11 are two horizontally spaced apart rings 13, which surround the respective upper bars 1, 2, 3 and 4, whereby each of said bars will be rigidly secured to the casket, as shown in Figs. 2, 6, 7 and 8. Also, a tie member 14 connects the members of the spaced apart rings 13, and when said brackets are secured to the casket, it contacts with the the face thereof, and it also affords a stop, as hereinafter explained in the operation.

Connected with each of the brackets ll is a swingable arm, consisting of a relatively wide outer face-plate 15, the same having an upper ring 16, and a lower ring 17, formed integral therewith and extending inwardly from the rear face thereof, as shown in Fig. 10.

The ring 16 is adapted to t between the members of the pair of rings 13, and at the same time it is rotatably mounted on its respective upper handle-bar 1, 2, 3 and 4, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8.

The upper end portion of the face-plate 15 forms a lip, which may engage the tie or stop 14, in order to limit the upper swinging movement of the face-plate.

The lower bars 5, 6, '7 and 8 are, in this instance, secured in and are supported by the lower rings 17, and of course indirectly by its bracket 11. When free the lower handles hang downwardly, as in Fig. '7, but they are adapted to swing outwardly and upwardly, as in Fig. 8, until the lips 18 engage the stops 14, after which the entire casket may be carried thereby.

From the above it will be seen that the casket may be carried entirely by the upper handlebars, in the usual manner; or it may be carried entirely by the lower handle-bars. In either instance the handle-bars not used will not be an obstruction. Or, in some instances, one or more of the upper handle-bars may be used and one or more of the lower handle-bars may be used at one time, in order to equalize the height of the pall-bearers who carry the casket. But perhaps the greatest reason for the employment of two sets of handle-bars is that of the decorative effect, and giving the appearance of massiveness to the entire ensemble.

From the above it will be apparent that while two sets of handle-bars add materially to the eiiiciency and the ease of adjustment with relation to the persons who may carry the casket, they also add materially to the artistic appearance of the casket as a whole.

Having now fully shown and described my invention, and its proposed operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In combination with a burial casket, a plurality of brackets each attached to the exterior of the casket by a single securing means and arranged in horizontal alignment with relation to each other, each of said brackets being formed with both an upper and a lower ring portion and a face-plate portion formed integral with the two ring portions and extending therebetween and projecting laterally therebeyond, an upper handle-bar extending horizontally through and secured in the upper ring portion of a plurality of said brackets, and a lower handle-bar extending horizontally through and secured in the lower ring portions of the same brackets, all substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with a burial casket, a plurality of brackets each attached to the exterior of the casket and arranged in horizontal alignment with relation to each other, a pair of spaced apart rings, a face plate formed integral with said rings and extending therebetween and projecting therebeyond, an upper handle bar extending horizontally through and secured in the rings of a plurality of said arms, and a lower handle bar extending horizontally through and secured in the lower rings of said arms, all substantially as shown and described.

3. A casket handle associated with a plurality i of like handles carried by a single casket, said casket handle comprising a base portion adapted to be rigidly secured to a burial casket and arranged in alignment with relation to a plurality of like bases, an upper and a lower ring portion spaced apart and projectingly connected with said base portion, a face plate formed integral with said upper and lower ring portions, each of said upper and lower ring portions being adapted to support an upper and a lower handle bar respectively, all substantially as shown and described.

RUSSELL A. MCCLELLAND.

IDG 

